Dubbed the “reigning king of salsa” by the New York Times, salsa aficionados consider Marc Anthony more authentic than fellow Latin recording artists Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, both of whom he's outsold. Noted for his electrifying live performances, the salsa king began his career writing music for club performers The Sapphires and Menudo. In 1991, encouraged by Latin DJ Little Louie Vega he releaesd his first Latin music album, When the Night Is Over, featuring the work of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Luis Perico Ortiz. After establishing his success with Latin listeners who credit him with deity status, he made his English-language debut with his eponymous 1999 album, which went platinum after six weeks. His pop hit from the album, “Dimelo (I Need to Know),” won Song of the Year at the first-ever Latin Grammy Awards. He also won a 1999 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. An actor on the side, he's appeared onscreen in Big Night and Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead, and onstage in the starring role of Paul Simon's short-lived Broadway musical, The Capeman.